Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-06-18


and, like the water In that vessel, reflect
many things; but they pass, my Holly-they
pass and arc forgotten. Only tho water Il
the water still, and / still am ], and that
which malzeth the water mnketh Il, and that
which maketh me maSeth me, nor can my
quality be altered. Therefore pay no heed
to what seem, seeing that thou canst not
know what arm. II thou troublest mo again
/ will veil myself, and thou shalt behold my
face no more"
rose, and sunk on the cushioned couch
beside hor, yet quivering with emotion
though for moment my mad passion had
left me, as the leaves Of q tree culver still,
although the gust be gone that stirred them.
did not dare totell her that had seen her
in that deep and hellish mood, muttering in
carnations to the fire in tho tomb.
:" So" she went on, now eat some fruit;
believe Inc, it is the only true food for man.
Oh, tell me of the philosophy of the Hebrew
Messiah, who came after me, and who thou
sayest doth now rule Rome and Greece and
Egypt and the barbarians beyond. 1t must
have been strange philosophy that Ho
taught, for in my day the people would have
naught Of our philosophers. Reyel and lust
and drink, blood and cold steel, and the shock
of men gathered in the battle--theso were tho
canons Of their creeds"
l had recovered myself little by now and,
feeling bitterly ashamed Of the weakness into
which | had been betrayed, did my best to
expound to her the doctrines Of Christianity,
to which, however, with the single exception
Of heaven and hell, found that she paid but
faint attention, her interest being all directed
toward the Man who taught them,
"Ailln she said; II sec--a new rcligioni I
have known so many, and doubtless there
have been many more since | knew aught
beyond these caves Of Kor. Mankind nslis
ever of tho skies TO vision out what lies be-
hind them. 1t is terror for the end, aud but
subtler form of selAshness--this Is what
breeds religions Mark, my Holly, each re-
ligion claims the future for its followers, or,
at the least. the good thereof. The evil is for
those benighted ones who will have none of it,
seeing the light the true believers worship, as
the fishes zee the stars, but dimly. The re-
ligions come and the religions pass, and civili-
cations come and pass, and naught endures
but the world and human nature. Ali IL
man would but see that hope is from within
and not from without--that be himself must
within him is the breath Of life, and knowl-
edge of good and evil, as good and OWL are to
him. Thereon let him build and stand erect,
and not cast himself before tho image Of
some unknown God, modelled like himself,
but with bigger brain to think evil and q
longer arm to do it."
| thought to myself-which shows how old
such reasoning is, being, indeed, one Of the
recurring quantities Of theological discussion
that her argument sounded very like some
have heard in tho Nineteenth century, and
in other places than the caves Of Kor, and
with which, by the way, personally disagree,
but did not dare to try and discuss the ques.
ton with her To begin with, my mind was
too weary with all the emotions through
which had passed; and in the second place,
| knew that should get the worst Of it. II
is hard enough to argue with an ordinary
materialst, who hurls statistics and whole
strata Of geological facts at your head, whilst
YOU can only buffet him with deductions and
Instincts and the snowflakes of faith, that
are, alas, so apt to melt in tho hot embers Of
our troubles How little chance, then, should
| have against ono whose brain was super
naturally sharpened, who had 1900 years Of
experience, besides all manner of knowledge
of the secrets of nature at her command
Feeling that she would DO more likely to con
vert me than should to convert her,
thought it best to leave tho matter alone, ant
so sat silent. Many a time since then have
bitterly regretted that l did SO, for thereby
lost the only opportunity / can remember
having had of ascertaining what Ayesh!
really believed.
"Well, my Holly, art thou tired Of M
already, that thou dost sit SO silent q" she sale
presently, with little yawn. "Faithles
man! And but half an hour since thou was
upon thy knees-the posture does not SUI
thee, Holly--swearing that thou didst low
me. What shall we do' Nay, have it.
will come and see this youth, the Lion, as th
: old man Billali calls him, who came with thee
and who is now so sick. The fever must hav
run its course by now, and If he is about t
die will recover him. Fear not, my Holly
shall use no magic, Have not told the
,, that there is no such thing as magic, thougl
there is such thing as understanding AM
! applying the forces which are in naturea G.
now, and presently, when / have made til
drug ready, win follow thee"
!. Accordingly went, only to find Job an
Ustane in great state of grief, and declaring
; that Leo was in the throes of death, and tina
: they had been searching for me everywhere
rushed to the couch, and glanced at him
clearly he was dying lie was senseiess an
breathing heavily, but his lips We're quiverine
! and every now and again little shudder RAJ
down hisframe. 1 knew enough Of doctorin
, to see that in another hour he would be be
.. yond the reach of earthly hclp---perhaps |
' another five minutes. How ! cursed m
selfishness, and tbs folly that had kept m
lingering by Ayceh rs side while my dear bo
!, lay dying! Alasl and alasl how easily til
/, best Of us are lighted down to evil by th
CLEAN Of woman's eyesl What w1cke
= wretch was II Actually for the hast hal
7 hour had scarcely thought of Leo, and THU
: be it remembered, of the man who for invent
wears had been my dearest companion, nm
: tho one interest OF my existence. And MOI
J, perhaps it wns too late
= / wrung my hands and glanced rotfnt
: LJstane was sitting by the couch, and in he
eyes burned the dull light of despair. Job wa
blubbering am sorry cannot call his dii
tress by any more delicate word-audibly |
the corner. Seeing my eye fixed upon hin
! he weht outside to give way to his grief in til
passage, Obviously the only hcpe lay /
Ayesha. She, and she alone-unless indec
- | i'll l.